How do people talk about their careers in China?  Many people here work very hard, to the point where they 做牛做马 (work as hard as oxen or horses).  Even so, sometimes a horse has to 跳槽 (jump stables).   It is important to be as 用功 (hardworking) as they come in this economic climate.  For some people, salary isn’t as important as a  事业平台 (career) platform that’s oriented in the proper 方向 (direction).  Following that, the most important step is to find a 伯乐(judge of talent) for you, the 千里马 (thousand-li horse- hard worker) to maximize your 进展 (progres and development).  If not, you may soon find yourself in the army.  Not the actual army, but the 失业大军 (army of the unemployed).
做牛做马 zuo4niu2zuo4ma3 – work as hard as an ox or horse
跳槽 tiao4cao2 – jump stables, change positions
用功 yong4gong1 – hardworking
事业 shi4ye – career
平台 ping2tai2 – platform
方向 fang1xiang4 – direction
伯乐 bo2le4 – a person able to see talent
千里马 qian1li2(3)ma3 – thousand-li horse, a hard worker
进展 jin4zhan3 – development/progress
失业大军 shi1ye4da4jun1 – army of the unemployed